Domestic appliance



Aug. 14, 1945.

.D. K. FERRIS DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed Aug. so, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 K 9 INVENTbR.

Aug. 14, D K- FERRIS DOMESTIC MPLIANCE Filed Aug. 30, 1941 2 sh eets sheet 2 STOP ononoooooufl j )rmsra START Na Na Patented Augsl l, 1945' 2,381,894 nomss'rrc APPLIANCE Donald K. Ferris, Dayton, Ohio, asslgnor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application August 30, 1941, Serial No. 409,070,

3 Claims.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sction of a portionof Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram showing a control for the washing machine; and

Figs. 4 to 8 inclusive are wiring diagrams showing switch connections under different conditions.

cated in Fig. 9; to cause the washing machine to perform the des' 2d operations. For example, when the timer is started, at N1 the switches 60 therein are moved to energize and open solenoid Fig. 9 is 'a diagram of the electrical elements employed with my invention.

In general, the washing machine comprises a rotatable tub it, an agitator l3, and a motor transmission housing H, which contains a transmission and a motor It. The arrangement is such, that, when the motor I5 is rotated in one direction, the transmission 84 rotates the basket, and when the motor i5 is rotated in the opposite direction, the transmission ll vertically reciprocates the agitator It. The motor IS and transmission it may be constructed as shown in Fig. 6 of Clark Patent No. 2,348,152 granted April 11, 1 4, wherein Fig. 6 is reproduced from Clark applica ion 8. N. 358,871, filed September 28, 1940.

The basket it is supported on a resilient collar it, made of rubber or the like, to allow the basket ll and housing II to vibrate both during agitation and rotation relatively to the outer casing IT. The collar It is supported on the partition "a rigidly secured to casing ll.

Means are provided for filling the tub ll with liquid from a source of liquid supply. For this purpose, hot and cold water connections II and I! are provided. These connections have solenoid valves 28 and 29, respectively, which are connected to a mixing chamber 23 and conduit means 24 for discharging the liquid into the basket ll. A timer switch mechanism 25, of

well-known construction, is mounted in the washing machine, and is provided with a handle 28. The user may place the handle 26 at the starting position N1, whereupon the timer is driven by-an electric clock II or the like, which is energized by lines ll and H from contacts I, I4 and I, which timer opens and closes certain switch contacts 00 and n. in sequence as iudh n maybe valves 2! and 2| for a period of time more than sufllcient to fill the basket in with water. Thereafter, at Naythe timer opens switches .60 and closes the solenoid valves 20, 2 I, and, at N3, closes certain switches GI and energizes the motor I5 to-rotate in the direction which imparts agitation to the agitator H for a proper length of time. Thereafter, at N4, the direction of rotation of the motor I5 is reversed by opening certain switches 6i and closing other switches Bl to impart a spinning action to the basket Hi. This causes the liquid therein to be discharged over the lip 2! into the sump 28, from whence the liquid flows through pipe 29 under the impulse of pump 30 to be discharged through the pipe it into the suitable sink or drain. Y

In accordance with this invention, the valves 21! and II tend to remain open under the control ofthe timer 25 for a much longer period of time than is necessary to fill the tub. I provide switch means, responsive to weight of the matein the basket il may vary this total weight a slight amount, but not enough to cause any great diflerence in the level of liquid in tub Ill controlled in response to the weight of. material in the tub. When less than 8 pounds of clothes are placed in the tub, more wateris introduced into the tub: but the final level of the water is practically the same because the smaller amount of clothes counterbalances the additional amount of water. Any slight dilIerence is immaterial.

The switch I! may be of the snap-acting type, if desired. The lower end 33 of the housing ll cooperates with an arm 34 and an adjustment screw 35. As the arm 34 descends, in response to the filling action taking place in the tub i0,

The construction of the weight responsive switch means may be or any suitable type. For example, a vertical cylindrical housing 40, mounted on the frame or outer casing l'l, may be provided with a spring-pressed plunger 4| extending toward the tub. -This plunger may carry the arm 34. The lower end 83 of the housing a rubber block which rests on the arm 34 (the arm 24 being in the form a large disc). This permits the housing II to move laterally with respect to the arm 24, without displacing the screw 25 from alignment with the plunger 25. If desired, the rubber block 38 may be secured to both the casing II and to the arm 34, and in such case a limit is placed on the lateral rocking movement of the casing II.

The timer 25 is provided with all the necessary leads to the controlled parts 0! the washing machine. For example, it is provided with the electrical leads ll extending to the motor l5. Certain of these leads are energized when the motor is to be rotated in one direction and certain other of such leads II are energized when the motor is to be rotated in the opposite direction. Leads and 52 may be connected to the solenoid valves and 2| and to the switches 31 and 38 respectively, being connected to the common return line 53. The leads 54 are connected to a suitable source of electric power L1 and La.

In the operation of the machine, clothes are placed in the tub in, together with a sufficient amount of soap. The timer is set at its starting position N1, whereupon the timer 25 closes switches '0 and open either the valve 20 01' valve 2i or both as shown in Fig. 4. This causes liquid to be discharged from either or both the connections II and I! through the conduit 24 into the tub ill. The filling operation continues until the combined weight of the water and clothes reaches a predc termined maximum (adjustable by the screw 35), whereupon the switches 31 and 38 are opened in response to the weight of the'material in the tub ll as shown in Fig. 5. This closes the valves 20 and H and stops the filling operation of the tub. Thereafter, at N2, the timer 25 changes the electrical connections to th'ese valves 20 and 2i by opening switches 50, independently of switches fl and II, so that the valves cannot be opened even if the switches 21 and 38 should. be closed as shown in Fig. 6. Thereafter, at N3, certain switches '1 are closed and the motor I5 is energized to agitate the clothes, under the control of the timer 25 as shown in Fig. 7. Thereafter, at N4, certain switches are closed and others opened to reverse the motor so that the tub i0 is rotated by reversing the motor l5, also under the control cl timer 25 as shown in Fig. 8. One or two rinsing operations may be further performed, which are duplicates of the foregoing sequences, with the exception that soap is not generally added to the water, thus suitably rinsing the clothes in the basket. In each rinsing sequence the filling oper ation is controlled in response to combined weight of the clothes and liquid in the same manner as described with respect to the initial washing oper a on.

While the form of embodiment of the inventionas herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow:

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In combination, a washing machine including a resiliently supported rotatable basket, agitating means in said basket, a source of liquid supply for said basket, liquid from said source to said basket, a timer controlling a sequence of operations of said washing machine, means under the control of said timer for preventing rotation oi'said basket and agitation by said agitating mean during a filling-period, means under the control or said timer tending to maintain said valve means open during said ing period to maintain said solenoid valid (iii valve means controlling the flow of filling period, means responsive to the downward movement of said basket under weight of liquid added to said basket closing said valve means when said basket is filled to a predetermined amount, means under the control of said timer maintaining said valve means closed after said filling period, and means under the control or said timer causing agitation by said agitating means and rotation of said basket after said filling period.

2. In combination, a washing machine including a resiliently supported rotatable basket, agitating means in said basket, an electric motor and transmission means connected to said basket and a itating means, a liquid source of supply for said basket, solenoid valve means controlling the flow of liquid from said liquid source to said basket, an electric power source, a timer controlling the flow of electrical power from said electric power source, first switch means operated by said timer controlling rotation of said motor and transmission means, second switch means operated by said timer in an electric circuit from said power source to said solenoid valve means, third switch means in said electric circuit responsive to downward movement of said basket under the weight of liquid added to said basket, means operated by said timer during a filling period and acting on said first and second switch means to prevent rotation of said basket and agitation by said agitating means and, in cooperation with said third switch means opening said solenoid valve means to cause flow of liquid into said basket while said basket does not contain. a predetermined amount of liquid, means operated by downward movement of said basket and acting on said third switch means to close said solenoid valve means "when said basket is filled to contain a predetermined amount of liquid, means operated by said timer actuating said second switch means alter :llll

closed independently cl said third switch and means operated by said timer twtuatln first switch means after said flllii'nl' period cause 5 agitation of said agitating rotation cl.

said basket.

In combination, Washing machin ll ing a resiliently supported rototw l basket, railitating means in said a liquid source of sur ply for said basket, solenoid valve controlling the flow of liquid from said liquid source to said basket, an electric power source, a timer controlling the flow of electrical power from said electric power source, first switch means operated by said timer preventing rotation. of said basket and agitation by said agitating means during a filling period, second switch means operated by said timer tending to maintain said solenoid valve means open during said filling period, third switch means responsive to the downward movement of said basket under the weight of liquid added to said basket cooperating with said second switch means to open said solenoid valve means when said basket does not contain a predetermined amount of liquid and closing said solenoid valve means when said basket contains said pre determined amount of liquid, means operated by said timer actuatin said second switch means to maintain said solenoid valve means closed after said filling period, and means operated by said timer actuating said first switch means to cause agitation by said agitating means and rotation of said basket after said filling period.

DONALD K. FERRIS.

sold 

